Crews halt progress of Fillmore-area fire at 62.5 acres

(KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR) A Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter participates in an intense air assault on the Condor Fire that reached more than 60 acres just east of Fillmore on Tuesday.

(KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR) A plane participates in Tuesday's firefight east of Fillmore.

(KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR) Hand crews work the Condor Fire just east of Fillmore on Tuesday.

(KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR) A spectator observes the progress of the Condor Fire under attack by crews from multiple fire departments just east of Fillmore on Tuesday afternoon.

Karen Quincy Loberg

The Ventura County Fire Department stopped progress of a brush fire east of Fillmore at 62.5 acres Tuesday evening.

The fire originally was thought to be about four to five acres in size when it was reported around 3:40 p.m. about two miles east of Fillmore just north of Highway 126.

Within the hour, officials said it had grown to about 20 acres.

Bill Nash, a spokesman for the department, said Tuesday evening that the fire was 60 percent contained after burning 62.5 acres. Officials said firefighters would remain on the scene overnight increasing containment lines and mopping up to make sure the fire did not restart.

A Facebook post by the department around 6 p.m. had stated that the blaze’s progress had been halted.

“The forward progress of the fire had been stopped. Three helicopters are working the fire but are expected to be released soon,” the post stated, and “the fixed-wing aircraft have been released.”

Nash had said earlier in the afternoon he was confident firefighters would gain the upper hand once more aircraft were dropping water onto the fire along the 1400 block of East Telephone Road east of Fillmore.

He said a Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter was the first aircraft on the scene. Another helicopter was en route by 4:50 p.m., as were four fixed-wing aircraft, he said.

Numerous agencies helped county crews, including departments from the cities of Ventura, Santa Paula and Fillmore, as well as the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters traveled dirt roads and went through orchards to get to what they were referring to as the Condor Fire, according to the department.

A department Facebook post just before 4:30 p.m. stated:

“Firefighters are attacking the fire on a number of fronts. They are making progressive hose lays up steep hillsides, using hand crews and dozers to cut lines.”

The fire burned a hill covered by chaparral north of a citrus orchard and Highway 126. Offshore winds were pushing the fire north, according to a witness. The fire had crested the hill by 5 p.m., but by then, officials were confident it would not burn much longer.

The department said no structures were threatened and no one was injured in the blaze.

However, the fire may be a harbinger of things to come.

The National Weather Service said this week that there will be a greater danger of fire as gusty winds and low humidity move in to Ventura County.

Forecasters said a fire weather watch would be in full effect as gusty north winds and low relative humidity create very dry fuels in mountain areas.

The hazardous conditions are expected to subside Thursday, the agency said.